Cockburn Central vs South Lake

Cockburn Central is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 36 in South Lake. In Cockburn Central, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In South Lake, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. On these figures, Cockburn Central tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

South Lake

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (5 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (93% vs 27%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (61% vs 27%)
  • But Cockburn Central has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 2)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Cockburn Central

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (64% vs 26%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Cockburn Central

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (16% vs 5%)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

South Lake

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (77/100 vs 93/100)
  • But Cockburn Central has more units and townhouses to downsize into (73% vs 7%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Cockburn Central

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (20.7% vs -0.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Cockburn Central and South Lake drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Cockburn Central South Lake
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Cockburn Central South Lake
Walkability 56 / 63
Cockburn Central — Walkability: 56/100 South Lake — Walkability: 63/100
Safety 7 / 23
Cockburn Central — Safety: 7/100 South Lake — Safety: 23/100
Low fire risk 77 / 67
Cockburn Central — Low fire risk: 77/100 South Lake — Low fire risk: 67/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Cockburn Central — Low flood risk: 100/100 South Lake — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

South Lake has more residents (5,831 vs 1,521); South Lake skews older (36 vs 31).

Cockburn Central South Lake
Population 1,521 5,831
+283% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +20.7% -0.6%
Median age 31 36
Median household income $84,552/yr $90,584/yr
+7% vs other
Median weekly rent $355/wk
+1% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cockburn Central South Lake
0-4 4.5% / 6.4%
Cockburn Central — 0-4: 4.5% South Lake — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 5.4% / 11.4%
Cockburn Central — 5-14: 5.4% South Lake — 5-14: 11.4%
15-19 3.9% / 6.0%
Cockburn Central — 15-19: 3.9% South Lake — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 14.1% / 7.1%
Cockburn Central — 20-24: 14.1% South Lake — 20-24: 7.1%
25-34 31.0% / 16.2%
Cockburn Central — 25-34: 31.0% South Lake — 25-34: 16.2%
35-44 14.3% / 14.0%
Cockburn Central — 35-44: 14.3% South Lake — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 10.6% / 13.8%
Cockburn Central — 45-54: 10.6% South Lake — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 8.2% / 12.6%
Cockburn Central — 55-64: 8.2% South Lake — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 5.5% / 8.1%
Cockburn Central — 65-74: 5.5% South Lake — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 2.4% / 3.2%
Cockburn Central — 75-84: 2.4% South Lake — 75-84: 3.2%
85+ 0.4% / 1.1%
Cockburn Central — 85+: 0.4% South Lake — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cockburn Central 61.8% lone person
Cockburn Central — Lone Person: 61.8% Cockburn Central — Couple Families: 18.2% Cockburn Central — One Parent Families: 9.0% Cockburn Central — Group Household: 8.5% Cockburn Central — Other Families: 2.4%
South Lake 29.8% lone person
South Lake — Lone Person: 29.8% South Lake — Couple Families: 42.3% South Lake — One Parent Families: 18.7% South Lake — Group Household: 6.8% South Lake — Other Families: 2.4%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cockburn Central 64.1% renting
Cockburn Central — Owned Outright: 9.5% Cockburn Central — Mortgage: 26.3% Cockburn Central — Renting: 64.1%
South Lake 26.5% renting
South Lake — Owned Outright: 25.0% South Lake — Mortgage: 48.5% South Lake — Renting: 26.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Cockburn Central South Lake
Certificate III & IV 16.6% / 15.7%
Cockburn Central — Certificate III & IV: 16.6% South Lake — Certificate III & IV: 15.7%
Bachelor Degree 17.4% / 10.6%
Cockburn Central — Bachelor Degree: 17.4% South Lake — Bachelor Degree: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 6.5%
Cockburn Central — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% South Lake — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5%
Postgraduate Degree 5.7% / 2.6%
Cockburn Central — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7% South Lake — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.6%
Cockburn Central — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% South Lake — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Cockburn Central South Lake
England 5.3% / 5.0%
Cockburn Central — England: 5.3% South Lake — England: 5.0%
New Zealand 4.8% / 3.0%
Cockburn Central — New Zealand: 4.8% South Lake — New Zealand: 3.0%
Philippines 3.2% / 2.6%
Cockburn Central — Philippines: 3.2% South Lake — Philippines: 2.6%
India 3.5% / 1.4%
Cockburn Central — India: 3.5% South Lake — India: 1.4%
Malaysia 2.0% / 1.5%
Cockburn Central — Malaysia: 2.0% South Lake — Malaysia: 1.5%
China 1.7% / 1.8%
Cockburn Central — China: 1.7% South Lake — China: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cockburn Central 26.8% houses
Cockburn Central — Houses: 26.8% Cockburn Central — Flats / Apartments: 71.9% Cockburn Central — Townhouses: 1.2%
South Lake 93.0% houses
South Lake — Houses: 93.0% South Lake — Flats / Apartments: 0.2% South Lake — Townhouses: 6.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Cockburn Central South Lake
Median house price $881,111 $870,000
Median unit price $535,000 —
Median land price $275,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 24 sales
 21 days
from 45 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Cockburn Central South Lake
3 bed $880K / $853K
Cockburn Central — 3 bed: $880K (14 sales) South Lake — 3 bed: $853K (43 sales)

14 vs 43 sales

4 bed $950K / $918K
Cockburn Central — 4 bed: $950K (17 sales) South Lake — 4 bed: $918K (46 sales)

17 vs 46 sales

Development activity

Cockburn Central South Lake
New dwellings approved 1,395
across Cockburn
same for both
Approvals change year on year +14%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Cockburn Central South Lake
Houses 4.3%
$805/wk on $980K
 4.1%
$700/wk on $894K
Units 5.6%
$650/wk on $600K
 —

Ranking within WA

Cockburn Central South Lake
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 50% of WA Higher than 54% of WA
Schools Higher than 6% of WA —
Walkability Higher than 84% of WA Higher than 87% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 90% of WA Higher than 91% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of WA Higher than 84% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 43% of WA Higher than 30% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 65% of WA —

Liveability

South Lake scores higher overall (50 vs 45).

Cockburn Central South Lake
Grade C B
Score 45/100 50/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

South Lake carries more bushfire risk (33 vs 23); Cockburn Central carries more crime risk (93 vs 77).

Cockburn Central South Lake
Bushfire Low
23/100
 Low
33/100
Crime High
93/100
 High
77/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Cockburn Central South Lake
Inside the suburb 4 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Murdoch University (Murdoch), 5.8 km
 2
Murdoch University (Murdoch), 4.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.9% 1.8%

Schools in Cockburn Central

  • Havenport MSL College Independent · Combined
  • SEDA College WA (Cockburn) Independent · Secondary
  • Alta-1 College - Hammond Road Campus Independent · Secondary · Special school
  • SMYL Community College - Cockburn Central Campus Independent · Secondary · Special school

Schools in South Lake

  • Lakeland Senior High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • South Lake Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Cockburn Central South Lake
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 4 3
Parks & reserves 0 1
Childcare 1 5
GPs 1 6
Pharmacies 1 2
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1 2

Mobility

Cockburn Central South Lake
Walkability score 56/100 63/100
Distance to Perth 22.2 km
+7% vs other
 20.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 22 min 21 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 208.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 113.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 6164
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 72
postcode 6164
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Cockburn Central South Lake
Car (driver) 67.5% / 79.6%
Cockburn Central — Car (driver): 67.5% South Lake — Car (driver): 79.6%
Train 16.0% / 4.8%
Cockburn Central — Train: 16.0% South Lake — Train: 4.8%
Worked from Home 5.8% / 5.4%
Cockburn Central — Worked from Home: 5.8% South Lake — Worked from Home: 5.4%
Car (passenger) 3.6% / 7.2%
Cockburn Central — Car (passenger): 3.6% South Lake — Car (passenger): 7.2%
Walked Only 4.2% / 0.6%
Cockburn Central — Walked Only: 4.2% South Lake — Walked Only: 0.6%
Bus 2.9% / 1.9%
Cockburn Central — Bus: 2.9% South Lake — Bus: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.6%).

Setting

Cockburn Central South Lake
Elevation 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.0 km 7.4 km

NBN connectivity

Cockburn Central South Lake
Connectivity score 74/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 52%
1,742 premises
 4%
2,509 premises

Climate

Cockburn Central South Lake
Annual rainfall 745 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.6°C
same for both

Council rates

Cockburn Central South Lake
Average residential rate $2,754/yr
same for both
Council Cockburn
same for both

Federal electorate

Cockburn Central South Lake
Division Fremantle
same for both
Member Josh Wilson
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cockburn Central South Lake
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cockburn Central

Apartments Easy Commute Middle-Ring Trains Transport Hub

South Lake

Middle-Ring Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cockburn Central

Cockburn Central vs Success Cockburn Central vs Atwell Cockburn Central vs Beeliar Cockburn Central vs Yangebup Cockburn Central vs Jandakot

Other comparisons with South Lake

South Lake vs Yangebup South Lake vs Bibra Lake South Lake vs Jandakot
Full data on Cockburn Central Full data on South Lake
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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